Fluid actuated vise



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. lT. oBEcNY FLUID ACTUATED y-'I'SE Filed may a, 1941 inl h I Jan. 12, 1943.

,Jm 12, 1943. J- T- OBECNY 2,308,099

FLUID ACTUATED VISE @for egy- Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID ACTUATED vrsn mm 'r. obecny, mnemoc, cam'. Application May 8, 1941, Serial No. 392,446

9Claims.

holding jaws quickly and with a minimum amount of hand labor. Another object is the production of a device of its kind which is simple, strong, durable and eiiicient in construction. Another object is ready adaptability of the construction for use as a hand operable tool or in connection with machines of various kinds such as arel used for planing, milling, shaping, etc. A further object is to provide means for transmitting the clamping force or forces to the movable jaw or jaws at such angle as to automatically prevent the jaw or jaws from canting or shifting angularly with respect to the normal clamping surfaces of the jaws.

A preferred embodiment of my improved fluidV actuated vise is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved fluid actuated vise showing one stationary and one movable jaw and my improvement applied thereto; said movable jaw being shown in closed clamping position; Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a typical longitudinal section on a slightly increased scale of the telescopic sections of the ram and of the operating mechanism used with the structure shown in Figs. l and 2, parts thereof being schematic for the purpose of illustrating the operating functions; Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of a detail showing the hand controlled check valve H, used in the return duct of the compressor; Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the by-pass check valve I; Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of the check valve M, which is interposed in the duct between the compression chamber of the compressor and the return uid reservoir adjacent to said compression chamber, and Fig. 'I is a side elevation, partly schematic of a fluid actuated vise constructed in accordance with my invention when supplied with two 'movable jaws.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a. base which may be of any suitable construction to facilitate fastening on a work bench or clamping upon the bed of a machine tool. The base is f shown secured to a bed element B by bolts lli, to facilitate mounting, but the use of this feature is entirely optional. Adjacent to one end of the bed is an upstanding stationary jaw C,-hav lng the usual inner vertical transverse clamping face Ii. The base A extends rearwardly from the jaw in a horizontal plane and is provided with a pair of parallel longitudinal gib engaging slots I2 for holding and guiding the movable jaw D. IThe movable jaw has a companion inner vertical transverse clamping jaw I3 which is adapted to cooperate with the stationary face Il for engaging and holding work pieces of any desired shape and size. The lower surface of the movable jaw has a pair of longitudinal gibs I4.

of usual construction extending downwardly into and sliding in the slots` I2 for guiding and slidably holding the movable jaw on the bed without canting or binding in a horizontal plane with respect to the normal clamping surfaces of the movable jaw. The movable jaw is actuated, that is slid forwardly and rearwardly on the bed to and from the stationary jaw by a fluid actuated telescopic ram E.

The ram E is composed of a plurality of telescopic hollow cylinders i5, i6 and. I'l, the forward member l5 of which resembles a piston rod and is formed with a head I8 which is secured rigidly to a horizontal rocker shaft i9 by the set bolt 20 or other suitable means. extends transversely through and is journaled freely in the body of the movable jaw D and the head is held freely rotatable in the rearwardly extending passageway 2| in the body of the movable jaw. 'I'he rearward end of the telescopic hollow cylindrical section I1 resembles a head piece 22 which likewise is mounted upon a horizontal transverse rotatable shaft 23 and secured thereto by the set bolt 24. This shaft is journaled in a back stop 25 which is integral with and extends upwardly from base A. The longitudinal axis of ram E, that is of the hollow cylindrical telescopic sections thereof inclines downwardly in a forward direction from the pivot coupling 2'3 to the pivot coupling i9 so that when the ram operates under the pressure of fluid to urge the movable jaw into forward clamping position, the force thus exerted is the resultant of longitudinal and downward stresses which tends not only to urge the movable jaw forwardly but also urges the movable jaw downwardly upon the bed to overcome tendency of the movable jaw canting in a vertical -`longitudinal plane as related to the normal faces of the jaws. This movement feature is important because it assists in maintaining the jaws of the/vise more effectively in free normali operative position unaffected by undesirable strains.

This shaft 'Ihe inner end of the ram section I5 is formed with a. piston 25 of suitable construction which closes the inner end of the section and is of suitable diameter to produce a Working t in cylindrical section I5 and ported at 21 to provide a iiuid compression space between sections I5 and I5, so that fIud acting under pressure admitted from section I5 tends to collapse the two sections together during the opening movement of the movable jaw D. Also the inner end of the cylinder section I5 is provided with a piston 28 of suitable construction and diameter and is ported at 29 to also provide a working space 29 for the admission of fluid under pressure from section I6 thereinto for causing the sections I6 and I1 to telescope together. The piston 28 is ported at 30 to form internal communication between sections I5 and I1. overlap port 29 at or near the inner end of the stroke of the telescopic section I5 and close port 30 so that communication is established between the operating chamber Within section I5 and chamber 29 between sections I5 and I1. Suitable ilexible ducts 3| and 32 leading to a pair of opposite ports 33 and 34 in the casing of the three way operating valve F (shown schematically in Fig. 3) are connected with the extreme opposite ends of the operating chambers in sections I5 and I1 for directing the operating fluid, such as air under pressure, liquid, gas or any other suitable medium, in either direction desired through the ram, to urge the movable jaw .into clamping and released positions.

A suitable Iluid operating source is provided, the drawings showing a hand operable compressor G mounted upon the back stop 25, such as by bolts 25 in which the piston 35 is reciprocated in a uid compression cylinder 35 by the hand operable lever 31. The cylinder 35 is surrounded by a uid receiving return or expansion chamber 38 from which fluid to be compressed is received into the cylinder 36 below the piston through the check valve M (see Figs. 3 and 6). 'I'he compression 'chamber below the piston is connected with the pressure fluid inlet port 40 in the casing of the three way valve F by duct 4I. The opposite return port 42 in the valve casing is connected with the return chamber 38 of the compressor by duct 43, a hand operated release automatic check valve H (see Figs. 3 and 4) being interposed in said duct. This check valve has a spring pressed check valve body 45, valve stem 45 and spring 41, which latter functions to permit opening of valve at a predetermined pressure and allows return flow of spent fluid into the return chamber G. This valve is provided with a freely reciprocable connection 43 between the valve stem 45 and a threaded, hand operated shaft 49, which latter is arranged so that by unscrewing suciently the valve body is positively held unseated when desired to allow free return of spent fluid through the three way valve from the exhaust end of the ram.

A suitable by-pass 59 is provided between the live outlet duct 4I from the compressor and the return chamber 38, which contains a check valve I (see Fig. 5). This check valve is controlled in operaion by the interchangeable spring 5I, which is of predetermined strength, whereby any excess pressure exerted by the clamping jaws over and above a predetermined amount causes the release of uid under continued pumping action to return to chamber 38. In this manner the fluid pressure exerted by the clamping jaws is controlled automatically. A connection 52 with The piston 26 is adapted to duct 43 leading into the expansion chamber 38 of the pump or compressor is provided for the exhaust of iiuid from chamber 29 during the portion of the return or releasing stroke of the ram in advance of piston passing port 29. This connection is controlled by the hand operated valve 53, but can be made automatic within the spirit of the invention.

Operation The three way valve has a rotatable valve body 54 which provides port passages between the ingress and egress ports in the valve casing so that kept closed. When excess pressure over a predetermined amount is reached by continued reciprocation of the compressor piston, the pressure release valve I allows the excess fluid to by-pass back into chamber 38. Thus predetermined pressure is established against the movable jaw. The adjustable valve H is set to automatically check return flow of pressure fluid at predetermined pressure. When it is desired to release the movable jaw the three Way valve F is reversed into the full line position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the operation of the compressor causes pressure fluid to traverse duct 3| and urge the forward section I5 of the ram and the movable jaw backwardly. Upon section I5 approaching fully collapsed position with its piston 25 beyond port 29, continued reciprocation of the compressor piston causes pressure uid to enter chamber 29 between sections I5 and I1 through ports 29 and urge section I5 backwardly into collapsed position with the movable jaw spaced from the xed jaw. The spent Iluid exhausts back into chamber 38 through duct 32, valve F and check H. In the same manner as before stated the by-pass functions to limit the pressure exerted by the pressure iiuid during the opening operation of the movable jaw. During this return stroke uid ahead of piston 25 in chamber I5 enters chamber 29 and is released by opening valve 53 until piston 25 passes ports 29, whereupon the fluid from chamber I5 enters chamber 29 and urges piston 28 into fully receded position.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 7, both jaws J-J' of the vise reciprocate on the bed and each jaw is actuated by a telescopic ram such as K or K', all of substantially similar construction as above described. A single hand operable uid compressor and valve controlling mechanism is also employed excepting that both of the llexible ducts 5I leading to the outermost ends of the rams are connected into duct 32 and both of the flexible ducts 52 leading to the innermost ends of the rams are connected into duct 3I, whereby both rams are operated simultaneously to either close or open the jaws. The hand controlled valved passageways 55 similar to passages 52 are also provided for the release of fluid from the intermediate sections of rams K-K previous to the period when the ports 'entering the chambers similar to 29 are placed in communication with the forward sections of the rams. A feature included in Fig. 7 and not employed in the structure above described relating to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive is an equalizing connection L, by which both jaws are positively actuated in unison. This feature consists of an idle pinion 83 journaled in iixed position between the jaws and a pair of racks 64 and 65 in mesh with the teeth on opposite sides of the pinion, one rack being attached to jaw J and the other rack to jaw J', and both racks sliding longitudinally with the closing and opening movements of the jaws. In this manner both jaws are positively actuated in unison irrespective of uneven force applied to impel them forwardly or backwardly. The axes of the two rams incline downwardly in a vertical plane as in the structure employing only one ram, both jaws being urged downwardly as well as longitudinally as above described to prevent canting.

The structures shown are only illustrative of the invention and it is to be understood that changes and modifications are contemplated within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine tool, a bed, a pair of companion jaws on said bed, one of said jaws being slidable longitudinally, a fluid actuated ram having telescopic cylinder and cooperating piston elements arranged on an inclined longitudinal axis, the lower end of said ram being pivotally attached to said movable jaw and the upper end being movably connected to said bed and uid actuating means connected with said ram by which the ram is actuated to urge the movable jaw longitudinally toward said companion jaw and tending to urge the movable jaw downwardly tightly compressed against the bed to prevent cantine.

2. In a machine tool, a bed, a pair of companion jaw members on said bed. one of said jaws being slidable longitudinally on the bed, a fluid actuated ram having telescopic cylinder and cooperating piston elements arranged on an inclined longitudinal axis, the lower end of said ram being pivotally connected to said slidable jaw and the upper end being movably connected to said bed, fluid actuating means connected with said ram having valve controlled means by' which the actuating fluid is reversiblel whereby in one position of the valve means the ram is actuated to urge the movable Jaw longitudinally toward said companion jaw and tightly compressed against the bed and in another position the ram is reversed to slide the movable jaw into open position.

3. In a machine tool. a bed, a pair oi companion jaw members on said bedl one of said jaws being slidable longitudinally and actuating means extending longitudinally on an inclined axis downwardly towards said bed, the lower end of the actuating means being pivotally connected vto said slidable jaw and the upper end being movably connected to said bed, whereby the actuating means is adapted to urge the movable jaw longitudinally towards the stationary jaw and downwardly tightly against the bed.

4. A machine tool, comprising, a bed. a stationery Jaw on said bed. a cooperating movable jaw slidable upon said bed towards the stationary jaw, a iluid actuated power unit on t-he bed and pivoted to the movable jaw to reciprocate the latter toward and away from the stationary jaw, a fluid compressor connected with the power unit for actuating the latter and check valve means connected with said compressor for releasing excessive pressure of the actuating fluid from the power unit.

5. A vmachine tool, comprising, a bed, a jaw on said bed, a'second jaw opposing the first jaw and slidable longitudinally upon said bed, a ram carried by the bed and having a movable member pivoted to said second jaw, means whereby compressed iluid may be injected into the ram for actuating said movable member in a direction for advancing the movable jaw towards the first named jaw, valve means for reversing the iiow of compressed iiuid through said ram for actuating said movable member in a direction for withdrawing the movable jaw from the first jaw, and a valved duct connected with the compressed fluid injecting means whereby excessive predetermined pressure is released from traversing said ram.

6. A machine tool, comprising, a pair of movable jaws slidable toward and away from each other on said bed, a companion telescopic ram for each of said jaws, each ram having a movable member pivoted to a jaw and a stationary member pivoted to said bed, the axis of each of said rams being inclined downwardly towards the bed and the jaw whereby the jaws are urged downwardly against the bed when the movable members are thrust forwardly, a fluid compressor connected with both of said rams adapted to circulate compressed uid through said rams for actuating said movable members simultaneously in a direction for advancing the movable jaws together and valved means for reversing the circulation of said compressed iluid through said rams to actuate the movable members in a direction for simultaneously retract/ing the jaws apart.

7. In an assemblage as deiined in claim 6, equalizing means connected with said jaws for causing them to move in unison.

8. In a machine tool, a bed, a pair of companion jaw members above said bed, one of said jaw members being slidable longitudinally on the bed into close cooperation with the companion jaw, and means pivotally connected at one end to the movable jaw and pivotallysupported at its opposite end above the bed for urging said jaw into closed position and tightly against the bed by the resultant of two longitudinal and downward cooperative forces.

9. A vise including cooperating xed and movable jaws, a bed upon which said jaws are mounted, la fluid actuated ram having a telescopic cylinder element pivoted at one end to said jaw for actuating the latter to approach the fixed jaw by the extension of the telescopic cylinder element and pivotally supported near its opposite end above the bed, and valve means for reversing the direction of flow of the actuating fluid through said ram whereby the movable jaw is opened away from the fixed jaw by the extension oi the cylinder.

. JOHN T. OBECNY. 

